At present, many companies run their operations 24X7, due to which employees are forced to work morning, evening, night, and general shifts. If an employee goes on leave, then colleagues have to change shifts frequently. However, this kind of instability can hurt health. Famous neurosurgeon Dr. Payoz Pandey explained how frequent shift changes can affect health.
Frequent shift changes disturb the regularity of sleep. The body's biological clock (circadian rhythm) works on a regular pattern, but changes in shifts can disturb this pattern. As a result, there may be a lack of sleep, a reduction in sleep quality, and a reduction in sleep duration. This causes fatigue throughout the day, irritability, and difficulty in concentrating on work.
Frequent changes in shifts can have a serious impact on mental health. Lack of sleep and odd working hours can increase stress and anxiety. Deterioration of mental balance also increases the risk of depression. Apart from this, social life is also affected, because in such a situation there is difficulty in spending time with friends and family.
Regular changes in shifts lead to irregular sleep, which can increase the risk of heart disease. According to many types of research, shift workers are at a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. This is especially due to stress, irregular eating habits, and lack of sleep.
Digestive problems are common in shift workers. Frequent shift changes lead to irregularity in meal times, which hurts the digestive system. This can cause acidity, gas in the stomach, indigestion, and other digestive problems.
Irregular shifts lead to irregular eating habits and reduced physical activity, which can lead to weight gain. In addition, people working night shifts often consume high-calorie snacks, which can lead to obesity.
Lack of sleep and an irregular lifestyle can weaken the immune system. This increases the risk of infections and diseases. Flu, colds, and other infectious diseases can be seen frequently in shift workers.
(PC: Zee news)